Toyota got initial defect complaint in 2008

Friday

Oct 12, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 12, 2012 at 9:52 AM

WASHINGTON - Toyota learned in 2008 about a possible defect in power-window switches that prompted it on Wednesday to recall 7.43 million vehicles worldwide for fire hazards, according to documents filed with U.S. regulators.

WASHINGTON — Toyota learned in 2008 about a possible defect in power-window switches that prompted it on Wednesday to recall 7.43 million vehicles worldwide for fire hazards, according to documents filed with U.S. regulators.

Toyota, based in Toyota City, Japan, received a report in September 2008 from the United States about “an unusual smell” from the power-window master switch and “thermal damage” to the switch, the company said in a report posted yesterday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

The automaker sent the part to the supplier to investigate, and no “root cause” was found. No other problem with the switch was reported until May 2010, when the company said it began receiving information sporadically about an abnormal smell or smoke coming from driver’s-side doors, according to the report.

“There was really no trend early on, and it took considerable time to diagnose what seemed to be an isolated problem and how it was occurring,” John Hanson, a U.S.-based spokesman for Toyota, said in an email.

In 2009 and 2010, Toyota, Asia’s biggest automaker, recalled a record number of vehicles worldwide for defects that might cause unintended acceleration. The company in April 2010 agreed to pay a record $16.4 million U.S. fine for failing to promptly report the flaws with vehicle accelerator pedals.

Regarding the power-window problem, “I’m a little disappointed in that Toyota didn’t act sooner, especially because of the debacle in 2010 and, more importantly, the tragedy in 2010,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with IHS Automotive, referring to deaths that occurred because of unintended acceleration. “It’s not surprising that they would delay, given their pattern of resisting recalls historically.”

The U.S. auto-safety regulator opened an investigation into about 830,000 Camry cars and RAV4 crossover sport-utility vehicles in February after receiving six reports of fires that started in the window switch. It has received reports of nine injuries and 161 fires, said Lynda Tran, a safety-agency spokeswoman.

“NHTSA is aware of the recall announced by Toyota yesterday and is in contact with the manufacturer,” Tran said in an email. “The agency’s investigation remains open pending its review of Toyota’s documents regarding its recall action.”

Because the rising number of fire reports came shortly after congressional hearings and market-share losses in the United States, Toyota probably was reluctant to recall more vehicles for another defect, Lindland said.

“The last thing they could really withstand at that point was another recall,” she said in an interview. “I would guess the strategy may have been to address the 10 or 11 complaints and avoid doing a recall at all costs.”

According to a report posted on the safety agency’s website, the driver of a 2007 Camry reported “black smoke throughout the car” that “immediately turned into flames, which caused poor visibility and complete panic” for the driver and three passengers on Dec. 26, 2011. The flames burned the driver’s coat and a passenger’s hand as he tried to put it out.

“It was a frightening experience for myself and family members, as I strongly feel that no one has a clear explanation as to the cause of the fire and fails to ensure my family’s safety and well-being,” the driver wrote in the report.

Toyota didn’t provide an estimate of the costs of the recall, which a Tokyo-based spokesman said covers 2.47?million vehicles in the U.S. The recall covers vehicles from model years 2007 to 2009, including the Camry, RAV4, Corolla, Tundra, Sequoia and Yaris.

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